A Simple Approach for COnsumption and RElease (CORE) Analysis of Metabolic Activity in Single Mammalian Embryos

Non-invasive assay of the consumption and release of metabolites by individual human embryos could allow selection at the cleavage stage of development and facilitate Single Embryo Transfer in clinical IVF but will require simple, high throughput, sensitive methods applicable to small volume samples. A rapid, simple, non-invasive method has therefore been devised using a standard fluorescence plate reader, and used to measure the consumption of pyruvate and glucose, and release of lactate by single bovine embryos at all stages of preimplantation development in culture; amino acid profiles have been determined using HPLC. Early embryos with an ‘intermediate’ level (6.14±0.27 pmol/embryo/h) of pyruvate uptake were associated with the highest rate (68.3%) of blastocyst development indicating that a mid “optimum” range of pyruvate consumption correlates with high viability in this bovine model

Genetic characterisation and quantitative trait loci mapping of zinc nutrition in barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 192-211).x, 211 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.Maps major genes or quantitative trait loci associated with zinc nutrition in the vegetative and reproductive tissues of barley (Hordeum vulgare)Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Plant Science, 200

Effectiveness of three potential sources of resistance in wheat against Wheat streak mosaic virus under field conditions

Wheat streak mosaic virus is an established major threat to wheat in North America and is newly identified in Australia. Three genetic sources of resistance were examined, Wsm1 (from an alien translocation), Wsm2 (from CO960293-2), and c2652 (selected i

Power from the deep

normous amounts of potential energy lie buried in marine sediments in the form of reduced carbon compounds. The most familiar form of this vast energy reserve is petroleum, which drives the lion's share of today's energy economy. The next most obvious submarine energy reserve, even more abundant than petroleum, is methane. At deep-sea conditions of low temperature and high pressure, large amounts of this natural gas are found in sub-seafloor reservoirs of frozen methane hydrates [1]. Yet there is another abundant, but less obvious, marine energy reserve: sediment-associated organic carbon, which represents about 2% of the dry weight of marine sediments along continental margins. Is it possible to tap into this vast, dispersed form of submarine energy? If so, how? The answer, in part, is that microbes already have tapped into this large energy reserve. Now, in two papers, one in this issue [2] and the other in a previous issue of Science [3], researchers harness microbially generated power by constructing a fuel cell that can exploit the naturally occurring voltage gradient created by microbial activity in marine sediments

Multiple genetic loci for zinc uptake and distribution in barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Micronutrient malnutrition, often called 'hidden hunger', affects over two billion people globally. This is particularly problematic in developing countries where widespread zinc (Zn) deficiency exists as a result of a predominantly plant-based diet. Furthermore, supplemental fertilizers are often unavailable or unaffordable in impoverished regions where soil infertility is common. Delivery of more Zn via food grains is theoretically possible through selective breeding strategies, but severe technical difficulties associated with trace element research have limited research on the underlying genetic components of Zn nutrition. Genetic dissection of Zn nutrition involved a pre-existing doubled haploid mapping population of barley (Hordeum vulgare). Association of mineral nutrient accumulation traits with regions of the barley genome was determined in two seasons of growth to maturity, using mapmanager qtx and QGene 4.0. Nine genetic loci segregating in the population associated clearly with measured traits, including five that contributed to grain Zn status. Pooling two-row doubled haploids by selecting the three most favourable alleles increased grain Zn content and concentration by an average of 53 and 75%, respectively. These results will inform breeding efforts for increased Zn density in the major food grain, wheat (Triticum aestivum), by enabling syntenic marker-assisted selection in conventional breeding programmes.Paul F. Lonergan, Margaret A. Pallotta, Michelle Lorimer, Jeffrey G. Paull, Susan J. Barker and Robin D. Graha